2013 Spring Classics

[El Pistolero]

Lol, both Terpstra and Chava did a lot of work for Boonen during the race, tbh Chavanel is overrated on cobbles. He's never been that good in P-R, even without the flat tires. Still for Niki it was the best form of his career, Chavanel is way more reliable. He's also a much better climber.

Exactly what did Terpstra do for Boonen at the Ronde? A few pulls after that crash on one of the hills, but that was about it. When he attacked near the final he was probably trying to pull a Devolder and didn't help Boonen anyway. At Roubaix he was a great domestique though. Chava had a flat tire there, but yeah, it's not suited to him, he can still ride a top ten there though without bad luck.

 

[jaylew]

I haven't heard anything about how Flecha is riding so far. The good news for Flecha fans is that I'm pretty sure Vacansoleil will give him full support at RVV and PR.

He'll be there. He's usually fairly quiet leading up to the classics. Same race prep as last year and he finished 3rd at Het Volk(easier to spell). Actually, nice record in the last four years: 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd.

 

[Pentacycle]

Exactly what did Terpstra do for Boonen at the Ronde? A few pulls after that crash on one of the hills, but that was about it. When he attacked near the final he was probably trying to pull a Devolder and didn't help Boonen anyway. At Roubaix he was a great domestique though. Chava had a flat tire there, but yeah, it's not suited to him, he can still ride a top ten there though without bad luck.

Then Chava wasn't a big help as well... He couldn't close a gap to the great Luca Paolini, who almost got with Boonen's group. And why is it suddenly not helping your team if you're off the front? Terpstra began climbing the Kwaremont 10 seconds in front of the main field, everyone knew this wasn't the right move. Both Chavanel and Terpstra completely gave 100% for Boonen, right from 50k to the finish in every group they got into.

 

[theyoungest]

Then Chava wasn't a big help as well... He couldn't close a gap to the great Luca Paolini, who almost got with Boonen's group. And why is it suddenly not helping your team if you're off the front? Terpstra began climbing the Kwaremont 10 seconds in front of the main field, everyone knew this wasn't the right move. Both Chavanel and Terpstra completely gave 100% for Boonen, right from 50k to the finish in every group they got into.

The Sporza guys have a bit of a man crush going for Chavanel, which tends to cloud the views over in ol' Belgium.

 

[Winterfold]

Would love to see Flecha win P-R, if there is a God, please make it so...

 

[Pentacycle]

The Sporza guys have a bit of a man crush going for Chavanel, which tends to cloud the views over in ol' Belgium.

That's the sort of feeling I get as well watching Sporza. They see him as an incredible engine, but his best spring results are 2nd at the Ronde, 8th in Roubaix, and 16th in the Amstel Gold, at 33 years of age. Tbh that isn't much, he's a much better Tour stage hunter than classics rider.

 

[Fus087]

You forget to mention that he only started targeting (Flemish) classics five years ago, and that he's been on the same team as Tom Boonen since 2009.

 

[RHRH19861986]

You forget to mention that he only started targeting (Flemish) classics five years ago, and that he's been on the same team as Tom Boonen since 2009.

Right, I remember his 2008 Dwaas Doors victory in Cofidis colours, what a day.

He startet late with targeting the cobbled classics, but Duclos-Lasalle (Gilbert, not Herve) was 38 or so when he first won P-R. The cool thing about Mimosa is that he also does Liege regularly.

Don´t know when Cancellara will finally start to target Liege and Lombardia, after having announced that years ago. He never even tried!